Clemson football is 3-0 against this group of teams
9. Syracuse Orange – Last Week: 5 – (6-3) – What a difference three weeks make. A loss to Clemson has thrust the Orange into a three-game losing streak and a major drop in the power rankings. Yet another week without QB Garrett Shrader. Freshman Carlos Del Rio-Wilson got the start and struggled against the stout Pitt defense. Sean Tucker was also held in check with only 19 yards on 10 carries. They are just not a good football team right now. Maybe they can bounce back, but I doubt it with a tough match-up this coming weekend. Next up: vs. Florida State
8. Duke Blue Devils – Last Week: 8 – (6-3) – There is no one more surprised with Duke’s success this season than I. Riley Leonard continues to be a surprising steady force for the Blue Devils and they are winning games that they should win. A close one with cellar-dweller Boston College, and a close one at that, but this team finds a way to win. Leonard is a gamer, and five more cliches oft used to describe hard-nosed football players. Next up: vs. Virginia Tech
7. Wake Forest Demon Deacons – Last Week: 3 – (6-3) – Wake continues their downward slide in consecutive weeks and has dropped significantly in the Power Rankings. Sam Hartman has struggled with turnovers now two weeks in a row throwing three interceptions in the 30-21 loss to NC State. The good news is that he still threw for almost 400 yards and had two touchdowns, but the turnover bug has bitten and bitten hard the past two weekends. Next up: vs. North Carolina
6. Pitt Panthers – Last Week: 7 – (5-4) – Pitt had a huge victory over Syracuse this weekend. The defense held Cuse to just 9 points. Star RB Israel Abanakanda was held out of the game, but Sophomore RB Rodney Hammond Jr. filled in admirably with 124 yards rushing and a touchdown. Kedon Slovis wasn’t great, but he didn’t have to be. The defense was the story of the night with 6 sacks, and holding Cuse to 145 yards of total offense. Next up: @ Virginia
5. NC State Wolfpack – Last Week: 9 – (7-2) – I’ve tried for four consecutive weeks to tell you, dear readers, just how bad NC State is without Devin Leary. Well, I’m here to tell you that I’ve been mistaken. NC State just continues to win games I believe they should have lost and have won 2 in a row against good competition. MJ Morris has filled in for Leary admirably and is visibly getting more comfortable as the leader of the offense. The defense is still really good led by Senior linebacker Isaiah Moore. Next up: vs. Boston College